Board Minutes - 2021.11.15 - Annual & Ogranizational

Independence Community School Board Meeting

Regular/Annual Meeting and Organizational Meeting

November 15, 2021

REGULAR/ANNUAL MEETING

A regular meeting of the Independence Community School Board was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Eric Smith at the Administration Office, 1207 1^st St West, Independence, Iowa on November 15, 2021.    Board members present:  Eric Smith, Kim Hansen, Jennifer Sornson, and Gina Trimble.  Brad Bleichner was not attending but was available by text due to traveling abroad.  Also attending:  Supt. Reiter, Board Secretary Morine, administrators, directors, local press and guests. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  

APPROVAL OF AGENDA – Sornson moved to approve the agenda, Trimble second, motion carried 4-0.

CONSIDERATION OF ACTION ON CONSENT ITEMS – Hansen moved to approve the consent items.  Sornson second, motion carried 4-0.

     A. Approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting on October 18, 2021 and the special meeting on October 25, 2021.    

B. Approval of Board Policies (*changes noted)

Second Readings:

C. Approval of Resignations

D. Approval of Financial Reports

     1.  Bills – Director Hansen reviewed the bills

     2.  Budget Report

     3.  Financial Settlement Statement as of June 30, 2021

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

1. Comments from the Public.  None

2. Comments from the Board/Superintendent - Superintendent Reiter reported that the Iowa School Board Association (IASB) Convention is this week and a couple of board members would be attending with him.  The WAMAC Conference had their first vote to admit Grinnell CSD into the conference.  The final vote will take place at the December WAMAC conference meeting. Reiter recommends the December meeting of the ICSD Board be held Thursday, December 16^th since

there is an elementary concert on Monday, December 20^th.  Supt. Reiter attended the Rotary meeting to start talking about increasing the PPEL Levy funding and that this could be done without increasing the tax rate.   Information regarding the possible OSHA Vaccine Mandate for employers with over 100 employees was sent out to staff in order to meet deadlines.  It is possible this mandate could be repealed. We are working closely with our attorneys and IASB on this situation.  Supt. Reiter left the meeting at 6:12 pm due to illness.

3. Presentations

1.   Therapy Dog – Christie Litterer - This presentation will be rescheduled for a later date.

     2.  Student Learning Goals – Erin Burmeister reviewed the student learning goals with the board.

REPORTS

A. Building Administrator Reports

     1.  Junior-Senior High School Principal

     2.  Junior-Senior High School Assistant Principal

     3.  West Elementary Principal

     4.  East Elementary/Early Childhood Center Principal

B. District Director Reports

     1.  Activities Director Report

     2.  Director of School Improvement Report

     3.  Director of Technology Report

     4.  Director of Food Service Report

     5.  Director of Buildings & Grounds Report

     6.  Director of Transportation Report

OLD BUSINESS

1. Review East/West Elementary Construction Project – Principal Reed reported that work on the restrooms and some painting was taking place after school hours and that it is progressing nicely at West.   Principal Reidy reported that all the door frames have been painted and the new signage has been installed at East.   A walk-through with HSR and Larson’s will be scheduled for the end of December.

2. Update from the Junior/Senior High School Grading Coalition – Burmeister reported that they have attended the Lion’s Club and Ambassadors meeting to discuss the grading process.  The last SIAC meeting had some great discussions and education about the grading process.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Canvass of Board Election from November 2, 2021 – Board Secretary Morine presented the canvass from the election.  Results as follows:  District 1 – Brad Bleichner, District 3 – Charlie McCardle, At-Large District – Gina Trimble.   Hansen moved to accept the canvass, Sornson second, motion carried 4-0.

2. Comments from Outgoing Board Member(s) and Recognition for their Service - Sornson gave her parting words and as well as board members thank her for her service.   Thank you, Jennifer Sornson, for serving four years on the ICSD Board of Education.

3.  Adjournment of Retiring Board and Regular/Annual Meeting - Sornson moved to adjourn the annual meeting.   Trimble second, motion carried 4-0 and the meeting adjourned at 6:50 pm.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

An organizational meeting of the Independence Community School Board was called to order at 6:57 p.m. by Board Secretary Laura Morine at the Administration Office, 1207 1^st St West, Independence, Iowa on November 15, 2021.    Board members present:  Eric Smith, Kim Hansen, Charlie McCardle, and Gina Trimble.  Brad Bleichner - not attending but available by text due to traveling abroad.  Also attending: Administrators, directors, local press and guests.

1. Administration of Oath of New Board Members - Board Secretary Morine administered the oath to Charlie McCardle.

2. Election of a President of the Board – Hansen nominated Eric Smith for President, Smith nominated Kim Hansen for President.  Votes were sent via text to Morine’s cell phone.

Board Member               Vote

Gina Trimble                    Kim Hansen

Kim Hansen                     Eric Smith

Eric Smith                        Kim Hansen

Charlie McCardle            Eric Smith

Due to a tie, Board Secretary texted Bleichner to vote.

Brad Bleichner                Eric Smith (Bleichner voted via text)

Eric Smith was elected Board President. Board Secretary Morine administered the oath of office to President Smith.  Board Secretary Morine relinquished the meeting to President Smith.

3. Election of a Vice President for the Board – Trimble nominated Kim Hansen for Vice President. There were no other nominations. Votes were sent via text to Morine’s cell phone.

Board Member              Vote

Gina Trimble                    Kim Hansen

Kim Hansen                     Kim Hansen

Eric Smith                        Kim Hansen

Charlie McCardle            Kim Hansen

Brad Bleichner                 Kim Hansen

Kim Hansen was elected Board Vice President and Board Secretary Morine administered the oath of office to Vice President Hansen. 

4. Set Regular Board Meeting Dates, Time and Location for 2021-2022.

Presently, the Board meets on the third Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the Central Administration Office Boardroom for regular meetings.  Trimble moved to approve the Board Meeting Dates, Times and Locations for 2021-2022.  Hansen second, motion carried 4-0.

2021-2022 Proposed School Board Meetings: 

December 16, 2021 (Thursday) – NEW DATE  

January 17, 2022

February 21, 2022

March 21, 2022

April 18, 2022

May 16, 2022

June 20, 2022

July 18, 2022

August 15, 2022

September 19, 2022

October 17, 2022

November 21, 2022

 E. Roll Call Vote Order for 2021-2022 – Hansen moved to approve the Roll Call Vote order.  McCardle second.  Motion carried 4-0.

6. Discussion of Committee Assignments for 2021-2022 – Board discussed the committees and assignments. 

    G. Consider Approval of Committee Assignments for 2021-2022 – McCardle moved to approve the committees and committee assignments as follows.  Trimble second, motion carried 4-0.  Committee members will report updates during the Comments section of the agenda

NEW BUSINESS

A.    Consider Approval of Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. and Lynch Dallas, P.C. as Legal Counsels for the  District and Board of Directors – Trimble moved to approve Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. and Lynch Dallas, P.C. as Legal Counsels for the District and Board of Directors. Hansen second, motion carried 4-0.

B.    Consider Approval of Resolution Naming Depositories – Hansen moved to approve the Resolution Naming Depositories.  Trimble second, motion carried 4-0.

C.    Consider Approval of Resolution to Pay Bills When the Board is Not in Session - McCardle moved to approve the Resolution to Pay Bills When the Board is Not in Session.  Hansen second, motion carried 4-0.

D.    Consider Approval of Resolution to Authorize the Use of a Check Protector and Signer and the Proper Control of the Signer – McCardle moved to approve the Resolution to Authorize the Use of a Check Protector and Signer and the Proper Control of the Signer. Trimble second, motion carried 4-0.

E.    Consider Approval of Resolution to Issue Payroll – Trimble moved to approve the Resolution to Issue Payroll.   Hansen second, motion carried 4-0.

F.    Consider Approval of the Travel Request Form – December 2021 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL – Hansen moved to approve the Travel Request Form – December 2021 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL.  Trimble second, motion carried 4-0.

G.    Consider Approval of Student Learning Goals 2021-2022 – This agenda item will be moved to the December agenda as no motion was received.

H.    Consider Approval of the Computer Science/Programming Class – McCardle moved to approve the Computer Science/Programming Class.  Trimble second.  Erin Burmeister presented information as Computer Science classes are now mandatory and Charles Bare will teach them at the HS level. Mr. Bare was available to answer questions. Motion carried 4-0.

I.    Consider Approval of the Independence Community School District Early Graduation Applicants for January 2022 – Trimble moved to approve the Independence Community School District Early Graduation Applicants for January 2022.  Hansen second, motion carried 4-0.

J.    Consider Approval of the Affirmative Action Plan 2021-2022 – McCardle moved to approve the Affirmative Action Plan 2021-2022.  Trimble second, motion carried 4-0.

K.    Consider Approval of the Application to the School Budget Review Committee for Special Education Administrative Costs Associated with Lied Center Consortium Program for the 2022-2023 School Year – Hansen moved to approve the Application to the School Budget Review Committee for Special Education Administrative Costs Associated with Lied Center Consortium Program for the 2022-2023 School Year in the amount of $1,955.39.   Trimble second, motion carried 4-0.

L.    Consider Approval of the Application to the School Budget Review Committee for Special Education Administrative Costs Associated with River Hills Consortium Program for the 2022-2023 School Year – McCardle moved to approve the Application to the School Budget Review Committee for Special Education Administrative Costs Associated with River Hills Consortium Program for the 2022-2023 School Year in the amount of $6,239.96.   Hansen second, motion carried 4-0.

M.    Consider Approval of the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) Application Fall 2021 – On-Time Funding Modified Allowable Growth for Increasing Enrollment and Open Enrollment Out not in Fall 2020 – Trimble moved to approve the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) Application Fall 2021 – On-Time Funding Modified Allowable Growth for Increasing Enrollment in the amount of $115,632.00 and Open Enrollment Out not in Fall 2020 in the amount $92,328.80. Hansen second.   Roll call vote: Hansen – aye, McCardle – aye, Smith – aye, Trimble – aye.  Motion carried 4-0.

N.    Review IASB Legislative Priorities – Board discussed the legislative priorities as the IASB top priorities differed from the district’s priorities.  The board directed Delegate Kim Hansen to support the IASB priorities.

ADJOURNMENT – Trimble moved to adjourn the meeting.  McCardle second, motion carried 4-0.  Meeting adjourned at 7:55 pm.

__________________________________                ________________________________

Eric Smith, President                                                  Laura Morine, Board Secretary